Reference circuit arrangement and method for generating a reference voltage using a branched current path

摘要

Reference circuit arrangement according to this invention comprises a branched current path (BE) connecting a first and second terminal (T+, T−) via an intermediate terminal (TN). The intermediate terminal (TN) is connected to a reference terminal (GND). A current path (PTAT) is coupled between the first and second terminal (T+, T−) via the reference terminal (GND). A feedback loop (FB) is connected to the first and second terminal (T+, T−) and designed to control, at the first and second terminal (T+, T−), a virtual ground potential. A reference path (REF) is connected to the feedback loop (FB) having a reference input for receiving from the feedback loop a reference current (Iref) and reference output (Vref) to provide a reference voltage.

主权项

1. A reference circuit arrangement comprising:
a branched current path connecting a first and second terminal via an intermediate terminal, wherein the intermediate terminal is connected to a reference terminal; a second current path coupled between the first and second terminal via the reference terminal connected with a ground potential; a feedback loop connected to the first and second terminal designed to control, at the first and second terminal, a virtual ground potential; and a reference path connected to the feedback loop having a reference input for receiving from the feedback loop a reference current and having a reference output to provide a reference voltage, wherein the branched current path is implemented as a star or Y-connection, wherein the branched current path comprises:
a matched pair of a first and second resistor connecting, in series, the first and second terminal via the intermediate terminal, andan intermediate resistor matched with the pair of the first and second resistor and connecting the intermediate terminal to the reference terminal, wherein the resistance Rn of the intermediate resistor is given byRn=(N-1)2⁢R1=(N-1)2⁢R2,and
wherein N is an integer or real number greater than 1 and R1, R2 denotes the resistance of the first and second resistor, respectively.